Pit bull roundup 4/22/2017 Pit bulls attack children and police officers, menace mail carriers, kill small dogs in communities with breed bans, pit bull owners are total failures at containing their dogs. Ohio breed advocates lobby to save known dangerous dogs. Residents of other states have the same problems and are fed up as well.

Recent developments in Ohio pittery and some bonus Florida attacks sent in by a Florida reader fed up with pitbull attacks in that state.  It happens everywhere and lawmakers need to read news from actual news sites rather than listening to breed advocates.


2/1/217
Massillon Ohio
Stark County

A 5 year old child was bitten in the face by a pit bull.  The child required hospitalization. The child was a visitor to the home where the pit bull was harbored. The homeowner denied ownership of the dog but that claim was later proven false.  The pit bull was harbored by the home owner for several months.

As we frequently see with pit bulls, the story gets complicated.  When first responders arrived at the home to transport the child to a local hospital the dog was nowhere to be seen, reportedly at large.  This is easily explained.  The new owner of the pit bull hauled the thing off to someone else's neighborhood and abandoned it after the child was attacked.  Per Channel 19 News "Jon Barber, the Stark County Dog Warden, says the dog was abandoned by his new owners after biting a little boy inside his new home last weekend.

Barber responded to the scene and says it was the second time in as many months in which he was called to the house at Rhode Island and 25th St. to handle a complaint about this dog.

"She did indicate..... where to look for the dog" said Barber.

A search party, organized by an Ohio pit bull advocate, found Zazu, the newly placed and newly abandoned for aggression, pit bull. She is now in the custody of the county dog warden.

I digress here to point out that Ohio shelters are full of pit bulls that have been surrendered because they were aggressive, or simply abandoned because they were aggressive and picked up as strays.  This is the reason that there are so many available pit bulls.

Zazu had a previous owner, seen on camera in the video from the Channel 19 News video. Zazu was given, by that owner,  to the family where she was the subject of two complaints to the County Dog Warden, including an attack on a child.  How many more chances will Zazu get?
 
Zazu the biter. If you like pit bulls, Zazu is a rather nice looking creature. She was likely an expensive purchase for whoever her first owner was.

The homeowner, 25 year old woman, has been charged for failure to control, failure to vaccinate and license, and abandonment.

Per Indionline.com "The dog won't be adopted from the pound, Stark County dog warden Jon Barber said, but they will help him find a new home. The dog, he said, will not be euthanized."

"He seems to be a very healthy dog," Barber said.  Personal opinion here but who cares if the dog is healthy, the peaceful public deserves to know the dog is SAFE.  Barber knows this is not the case and that is why he won't adopt it out directly.  He does not want the liability for the county.

Click here to see more about this story, including photos.  One of these photos shows pit bull advocate Jason Cooke (in the red coat) and associates demonstrating for "Justice for Zazu" a child biter with a history of complaints with local animal control.  The child's grandfather wonders why there has been support for the dog but none for the child.  Priorities?  "Some on social media also lashed out at the victim’s family. Fred Gurule, the boy’s grandfather, said his family has endured some hurtful comments. 'There has been so much concern over the dog and few expressed concern about the child,” he said. “All this social media commenting over this dog, why isn’t anyone commenting about how he’s (the boy) doing?” He said his grandson, although frightened by the incident, is recovering."

Cooke is not new to demonstrations in support of pit bulls. Here he is demonstrating against a breed ban in Youngstown.  Cooke is the man with the "End breed prejudice" sign in the photo below.  Youngstown city council surrendered to this pitiful handful of pit bull advocates, led by Cooke of Boardman Ohio, and dropped their proactive law.  

I find it interesting that one of Cooke's fellow demonstrators holds a sign with the words "Punish the deed not the breed" but in Massillon, Cooke demonstrates in support of a pit bull that has done the deed and is known to be dangerous.  There is no logic.

                                                                  * * *

2/14/2017
Girard Ohio
Trumbull County

A 55 year old woman called police to report that her pit bull killed her Chihuahua and bit her grandchild.  The pit bull owner wants the pit bull put down but apparently expects the county dog warden to do the job.  Girard has a pit bull ban and the mayor states the ban is here to stay.  Steffen Baldwin, who lives in Union county and a is registered lobbyist for pit bulls did lobby unsuccessfully against the Girard breed ban.  In hindsight, given Baldwin's recent fall from grace, turning a deaf ear to his lobbying was genius.  

                                                                     * * *

3/2/2017

Girard Ohio

Trumbull County

Update on a previous Girard attack.  I'm going to let WFMJ.com tell the story, my eyes are rolling.   Courtney Chupka's pit bull killed a peaceful pet, knocked the the peaceful pet's owner to the ground and bit the wife of the peaceful pet's owner.  After the attack the pit bull was at large and so aggressive that police were given permission to shoot the thing. THIS deserved leniency?   

"A Girard woman whose dog was shot by police after attacking people and another dog, has been convicted of less serious charges than violating the city's dangerous and vicious dog ordinance.

Courtney Chupka pleaded no contest to two counts of disorderly conduct in Girard Municipal Court on Wednesday.

The charge was amended from the vicious dog charges filed in December after police say her pit bull attacked a smaller dog being walked by a 69-year-old man.

The smaller dog did not survive the attack.

The man who was walking the smaller dog tells police he was knocked to the ground by the attacking dog and received a cut on his face.

When the man's wife came out to help her husband, the pit bull bit her hand.

After the dog left the confined area of the neighbor's property, its owner, along with other residents and police chased and attempted to corral the animal in a wooded area.

Police say at that point, due to the aggressive nature of the dog and fears that the attacks would continue, an officer received permission from the owner of the dog to use deadly force.

The officer used his service weapon to shoot the dog.

The judge found Chupka guilty of the fourth degree misdemeanors and fined her $200."

                                                                   * * *

2/23/2017

Cleveland Ohio

Cuyahoga County

A Cleveland mail carrier will no longer deliver mail to  a dozen homes on Walden Avenue.  Residents will have to drive to the post office to pick up their mail.  This arrangement is courtesy of pit bull owner Delorence Smith.  Smith's pit bull, Rocco,  has attacked mail carrier Jeffrey Glenn "several times".  It deserves to be noted that Glenn has delivered mail on Walden Avenue for 37 years.

Per Fox 8 News "The first time, I was on the porch and he came out of the back through a hole in the fence," said Glenn.  Glenn says he left the home a letter asking them to restrain their dog.  "Then the other time he came at me, I put my mail bag in front of me. He grabbed the bag and shook, shook, shook the mail all out," said Glenn.  Glenn says eventually the family was fined in court.  But nothing has changed.

"Ya'll need to fix that fence where the dog can't get out. Move the chain so he can't bite or get ahold of it anymore. None of that happened, so now we still where we were before. The dog is still there," said Glenn." 

Pit bull owner Delorence stated that "He (Rocco) does a lot of things that dogs do but I don't see him as a vicious dog."  Wonder what the dozen neighbors who will be driving to the post off ice to pick up their mail think of Rocco.  Delorence lives with his mother.

Cleveland had the second highest number of dog attacks, 58,  on mail carriers in the United States last year. 

                                                                         * * *

3/27/2017                                                                                                                                 Austintown Ohio                                                                                                                        Mahoning County

Charles Hunter, 71 years old, was charged with failure to confine his pit bull, twice, in one weekend.  The first time was on Saturday.  The pit bull was at large and chasing local residents.  Mr. Hunter was cited but learned nothing from the first citation.  

The second time the dog was at large it bit a 7-year-old child.  Per Vindy.com " The bite occurred Sunday afternoon.  A 7-year-old boy was riding his bicycle when the dog reportedly charged out of an Ardenwood Place driveway tackling the boy and biting his left hip." 

Hunter was ordered to surrender the dog to the Mahoning County Dog Warden's office and he has a court date for April 3rd.  

                                                                     * * *

2/19/2017                                                                                                                                     Moreland Hills Ohio                                                                                                                  Cuyahoga County 

Police took a complaint from a local resident that a neighbor's pit bull was "running loose again with people in the area."  Police spoke with both the resident and the pit bull owner. Evidence photos were taken and charges may be filed if it happens again.  The word used in the complaint "again" is powerful. 

This is a wealthy community.  People with money are not amused with pit bulls at large.   

                                                                       * * *

4/4/2017
Cleveland Ohio
Cuyahoga County

A six-year-old girl was attacked by an unrestrained pit bull.  She was bitten several times and was transported to Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital for treatment.  There is no report on the severity of her injuries. 
The dog reportedly "got loose" from a neighboring house.  Animal control officers located the dog nearby, on the same street.  Officers have not been able to contact the owners (shocking).  
4/5/2017 update. It has been reported that the pit bull was loose at the time of the attack, it jumped a fence to attack the child and dragged her down a driveway.  The pit bull had been loose in the owner's driveway prior to the attack.  Two other dogs were found illegally tethered on that property and impounded.   


                                                               * * * 

4/11/2017
Dayton Ohio
Montgomery County

Andrew Nason, owner of the dogs that mauled Klonda Richey to death in the snow in front of her own home in February of 2014 will finally serve a prison sentence, but not for her death.

Per the Dayton Daily News "   Andrew L. Nason, 32, now of Englewood, was found guilty Tuesday for causing severe head injuries to his girlfriend's two year old daughter in 2012. 

The toddler was taken by ambulance from the home where Nason was babysitting her while her mother was at work, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's office. 

Nason was found guilty of felony assault and two counts of child endangering. He was sentenced to five years in prison. 

"This defendant was supposed to be the child's caregiver. Instead, 

he abused her and caused permanent injuries, likely requiring the victim to need assistance for 

the rest of her life," said Mathias Heck, Montgomery County Prosecutor. 

Yet another booking photo for Andrew Nason.  As I understand it, those convicted and incarcerated for offenses against children have special social problems while in prison.  

                                                           * * *

4/18/2017                                                                                                                        Canton Ohio                                                                                                                      Stark County

A Canton police officer answering a domestic disturbance call was attacked by a pit bull mix dog.  The officer was bitten in the groin by the pit mix.  The officer shot the dog in the head.  Per Indeonline  "When officers prepared to depart, the dog still was alive. But (police Sgt Eric )Vanover said reports indicate the animal likely would have to be euthanized. There was no indication the police officer was seriously injured.

Police did arrest a man at the scene. Vanover said he did not yet have the report indicating the charge filed against the suspect. The dog is believed to belong to a resident of the home.

“I think he had several dogs inside the residence,” Vanover said.

                                                          * * *

4/11/2017                                                                                                                           Warren Ohio                                                                                                                   Trumbull County  

This is another follow up on a story we reported recently.  Pit bull owners keep Ohio police officers busy. Amber Finney, who was the very first person charged under Warren's new bestiality law and eluded capture since January has been located and arrested.  Here is the Cliffs Notes version of the story.    She pleaded not guilty and is being held in the county jail without eligibility to make bond. Her next hearing is 10:15 a.m. April 20.

Police said they found her in the basement at her home on Ward Avenue Northwest at 9:07 p.m. Sunday, after employees at the nearby Walgreens store on West Market Street said they observed her in the store and recognized her as the woman “on TV that got in trouble with animals.”

She had left the store by the time officers arrived, but officers went to her home and found her crying in the basement. She told police “she was drugged and later told officers that someone put something in her drink and she doesn’t remember what happened.”

It’s not clear whether she was talking about Sunday,or during the incident that resulted in her being charged under the bestiality ordinance. 

  Finney is a pit bull owner.          

                                                                            * * *

4/8/2017                                                                                                                            Dayton Ohio                                                                                                             Montgomery County   

A Dayton police officer shot a pit bull that charged him, and charged a mail carrier as well.  Per WHIO, police were called by the mail carrier who stated that she was charged by the pit bull and this was not the first time this dog menaced her.  When police arrived at the scene toe dog was chained to an anchor but the anchor was simply being dragged by the unrestrained pit bull.  Police contacted the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center but Montgomery County dog Warden Mark Kumpf's staff was unable to respond . 

Per WHIO " The two Dayton police officers used a loudspeaker to try to contact the dog’s owner in the house. Then, one kept an eye on the dog while the other attempted to knock on the door. While the officer approached the door, the dog trotted from behind the house, and then began to growl and started running at the officer, according to the report. “I fired three shots at the dog as I was back peddling away from the pit bull. The pit bull was still charging towards me. I fired one more shot at the pit bull. The pit bull turned around and ran to the rear of the house,” the officer stated."

Not surprisingly, when Montgomery County ARC did respond the ARC officer stated that there were several complaints against the very same pit bull.  Will dog warden Kumpf designate this pit bull dangerous now?  Frances Daniel, the pit bull owner was cited for failure to control.  

                                                               * * *

I still have MANY more Ohio  pit bull stories to cover but this is enough for today.  I will finish up with a few Florida attacks sent to me by a reader who is fed up with pit bull lunacy in that state as well.    

2/5/2017                                                                                                                                  Port St. Lucie Florida

A nine year old boy and his mother required transport to local hospitals with serious facial injuries after their own family pit bull mix attacked them.  Per TCPalm "The boy, who was bitten on the right cheek, was flown to St. Mary's Medical Center, West Palm Beach, a fire official said. The mother was taken to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute after being bitten on the ear, said Battalion Chief Scott West.

The dog was described as a pit bull mix. The incident happened at 1:10 p.m. at the family's home on Byron Street near Sportsman's Park. The names of the child and mother weren't  released."

                                          

2/6/2017                                                                                                                              Lake County Florida  

A pit bull deemed "not adoptable" at the Lake County Florida shelter bit a man who was thinking of adopting him.  Per PalmBeachPost.com " The man and his wife were testing their compatibility with the pit bull, Pluto, when it bit the man’s face, hand and forearm, The Sentinel reported. The man was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. 

Pluto was described as having “anti-social behavior and marked for euthanasia,” after several employees noted the dog’s aggressiveness. However the canine wasn’t euthanized until after Thursday’s attack, the Sentinel reported. "

How does something like this happen?  Pluto was known to be aggressive and unadoptable and shelter workers allowed this?  Who is responsible for the complete breakdown of safety protocols?   

 

Generic photo of a pit bull included with the article. Looks pleasant doesn't it?  Did the actual pit bull look more like this?

     

Ohio pit bull roundup, 5/22/2016. Pit bull advocates blame victims, pit bull owners attack police, pit bulls attack adults, babies and St. Bernards,

We have far too many Ohio attacks for one post so we will break this down into manageable sections.


4/22/1016
Maumee Ohio
Lucas County

Just when you think you have seen it  all from pit bull owners.

An elderly lady was walking her 12 year old, leashed Cockapoo in her own neighborhood.  She noted a pit bull mix approaching from the rear, dragging a small child who was holding the leash.

You know where this story is going.  The pit  mix attacked the sweet old dog, the sweet old dog's owner began hitting the pit mix on  the head, she was able to free her own dog.  Don't mess with  senior citizens.

The child grabbed the leash of her pit mix and ran home.  Here is where we hit a new standard for pittery. The child's mother called police and reported that the Cockapoo was the aggressor and had bitten her daughter.  The Cockapoo was quarantined for biting.  Upon investigation it was determined that the wound on the child's hand was a cut from her own leash, there was no bite.  Shocker, a pit bull owner lied about an attack, who would think?

Please click on  the link for video of an interview with the Cockapoo owner, watch the sweet old dog.
Were there charges for filing a false police report?

                                                         * * *

5/1/2016
Aurora Ohio
Portage County

More from the "you just can't underestimate pit bull owners" file.

Two Aurora police officers were dispatched for a call reporting a disturbance at a local residence, the resident had attacked a neighbor.  When police arrived 26 year old Brandon Bayless hit an officer in the head with a tire iron. Two officers also reported an aggressive pit bull at the residence. Who would have seen that coming?  Shots were fired but no gunshot injuries were reported.  Bayless was subdued with a Tazer. Bayless was treated and released from a local hospital and was booked into the Portage County jail.


Brandon Bayless, booking photo.

The two police officers were also treated and released from a local hospital.  Nobody knows what became of the pit bull. I hope the neighbors are carefully watching their children.




                                                                     * * *

5/2/2016
Greenwich Ohio
Huron County

A pit bull, family pet, bit a one month old baby on the face.  The baby was on the floor while the mother was in the shower. (?) The mother heard her baby crying and found that the pit mix had attacked.  The baby was transported to Mercy Willard Hospital via ambulance then on to an undisclosed Toledo hospital for treatment.

The pit mix was reported to be 7 or 8 years old, the family reported no previous problems with it but they do not want it back after the 10 day quarantine.  Smart choice.

Per the Norwalk Reflector "Dog warden Gary Ousley confirmed the dog has been quarantined and discussed its temperament.

“The dog was perfectly fine. We’ve had it here in the office and it’s been fine. It’s been friendly with (Officer) Josh (Jasinski) and me,” Ousley said. “I don’t see the temperament of this dog to be aggressive.”

The dog warden’s office is waiting for photos from police and feedback from the dog owner. Ousley said once his officers speak to the owner, they will know what the next step is after the mandatory quarantine."

Sounds like unless the family insists on euthanization their dog will be recycled right back in to the community with some unsuspecting family.

Bad choice.

Here is another bad choice, Included in the Norwalk Reflector story on this attack on a helpless baby is a video titled "From our partners: a blue 'pit bull' longs for a home and another joins a family"  promoting pit bull adoption as family pets.  Who thought this was appropriate?   What are you thinking???

                                                        * * *

5/16/2016
St. Marys Ohio
Auglaize County



 A pit bull attacked a St. Bernard, on the property of the St. Bernard's owner.  Police were called.  Per the Evening Leader "  “The St. Bernard was in its own yard and the pit bull was running loose,” St. Marys Police Chief Mark Ernst told The Evening Leader. “The officer tased the pit bull five times. The first few times, the pit bull went back after the St. Bernard. The last few times, the officer was tasing it to try and get control so they could get a dog pole but the dog was up and moving around. They were afraid the dog would break the leads and if so, they would have no control over the dog. With the kids and adults around, the officer was afraid it would attack a person.” It was at that time the officer shot the dog. Ernst said the pit bull’s owner eventually showed up at the scene. “He stated he understood why it happened,” Ernst said.


This comment was posted by the pit bull owner. Please remember, the pit bull was at large and attacking another dog on the property of the other dog's owner.

Brittany Bullock ·

Self Employed at Rci

Titan ran out of the house when the door was opened moving a bookshelf. There was three kids under 5 yrs of age at the house and he did not harm either one. 3 adults also not harmed. Ever thought Titan, "the vicious pit" was just protecting someone the St. Bernard was goin after. Considering the owed of the Saint said he was aggressive. He didn't tear that dog up severely.. It had two puncture wounds and some stitches in the face. He wasn't attacking him or he would've been way more injured. He was licking his jaws to keep him in place probably. And the owner also said they beat Titan with boards.. And this happened in 7-10 minutes then police arrived. No adults were outside during this so there's no witness to what exactly happened before the dog fight. Titan was a gentle obedient submissive dog. Never barked or growled.. Literally. And was super protective over every dog and human especially children and babies. There bits and pieces missing to this story.. That's for sure. Me and my ex got Titan together. And he was very well trained and babied with lots of love. We had him around people and other dogs before. Never a problem. He was bit before but never fought or attacked the dog back. He was an inside dog and slept in our bed every night. We eventually had a puppy after we got him and he loved that dog so much. That was his brother. So maybe if people would tell the rest of the story then we could understand the whole timeline. And what really happened.

There is a gofundme page for the St. Bernard's medical expenses, please click here .  He could use a few bucks.




                                                             * * *

5/19/2016
Youngstown Ohio
Mahoning County

This one is a stunner and in my mind I hear part of this blog in Judge Jeanine Pirro's voice.

We begin with the facts.  A Youngstown woman, 36 year old Billie Schweikart, was attacked by the family pit bull. The three year old pit bull was "being trained" as a "service dog" for Schweikart's small daughter.  Schweikart  was apparently in her yard with her children when she was attacked.  Her screams brought the neighbors who hit the dog with a baseball bat and ran it over with a van in attempts to terminate the attack.

Per Vindy.com "The interior of the victim's van was covered in blood as was a car seat in the van that witnesses were using to try and fend the dog off, speckled with chunks of flesh."  A neighbor was quoted "He had her on the ground dragging her. He was chewing her up." The same neighbor stated that the victim was somehow able to get into the van to drive away but the dog continued the attack.

 The children are in the car, screaming,  at this point. Picture this from their viewpoint.

The explanation for the attack (there is always an explanation for pit  bull attacks) was that friends had gone to the victim's home to take her out  to lunch and the dog got excited and "jealous" when the victim picked up a small child  SO THE PIT BULL ATTACKED THE OWNER. Makes perfect sense to me.

This pit bull was "adopted" and reportedly had a history of abuse.  This is a common excuse because these dogs are picked up as strays and nobody knows where they came from or what their background is.  The pit  bull is aggressive in the shelter or the rescue? Must have been abused, obviously.  What other excuse might there be?

It does not get better, the dog has a history of aggression "but not to this extent".  Jax the  pit bull has attacked a neighbor mowing his lawn. A trainer had been sought for the lawn mower aggression issues but apparently without any positive result.    They put up with this in Youngstown?

Yes, they have to put up with it in Youngstown. Youngstown dropped their pit bull ban last year at the urging of Boardman resident Jason Cooke.  Why?  God only knows. We will get back to this point.

Two days after the attack Schweikart has forgotten her pit bulls previous aggression and stated Jax
had "never shown aggression."  Per WFMJ "We love Jax he was like apart of the family but, to see him that day he wanted me dead," said Schweikart.

Mahoning County Dog Warden Deputy Dave Nelson tells 21 News the attack is one of the worst he has come across in 28 years on the job.

Schweikart is badly bruised, with more than 100 stitches, and an arm and leg bitten to the bone.

She says she can't believe "Jax," who had been so good with her daughter, would suddenly attack.

"It went on for about 20 minutes of him just attacking me until the neighbor came over and ended up hitting him on the head with a baseball bat just enough to get him off of me," said Schweikart.

Schweikart says she doesn't know what caused Jax to act out of character but, Thursday afternoon he bolted for her and didn't let up.

Even after she took refuge inside a family van.

"Jax went under the van and sat right under where I was at, like waiting for me to open the door so he could finish. Like he was dead set he was going to kill me," described Schweikart.

Medics who arrived on the scene were unable to get to Schweikart until Jax finally gave up his fight when the van tried to pull away."

 PICTURE IT!

Click here for a hospital bedside interview.    Photos within the video show that there is no fence around Schweikart's yard. Other photos show Schweikart's small daughter with Jax.  One may not ask why the child might require a service dog but one may legitimately ask what task this dog was being trained to provide for the child.  Since the dog did not benefit from training to reduce his lawn mower aggression it is hard to figure out how this dog, adopted a year ago with known previous aggression issues and the mythical abuse history, was an appropriate choice for a child's service dog. Possibly I'm too picky.




Jax the pit bull is expected to be euthanized.  Schweikart is concerned that pit bulls might get a "bad rap" from this attack and adds that this is not her first pit bull. She is an experienced pit bull owner. The reputation of pit bulls should be her last concern at this point. It is reported that Schweikart will be hospitalized for a month and has several surgeries to look forward to.

Taxpayer alert ! Guess who will foot the bill for this?

Now lets talk Youngstown.  This city had a breed ban until late last year.  Pit bull advocate, and hoarder Jason Cooke, from Boardman Ohio,  approached a city council too naive to realize they were being outrageously manipulated by a non local breed advocate with no interest in the safety of Youngstown residents. Per Vindy.com "Cooke, who owns eight pit bull terrier mixes, said he and numerous pit bull owners will have a celebratory rally  outside city hall at 4:45 Wednesday  with Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. that day."  They are celebrating the victory before the vote.  Here is a photo of the "numerous pit bull owners at the  "rally."  Please keep in mind that the the estimated population of Youngstown Ohio is 65,062 and you get 8 people (nobody knows where they came from) one out of town breed activist, and one dog and THIS is a "rally of numerous pit bull owners?"



The Youngstown city Council dumped a proactive law that, if enforced would have protected Schweikart, her daughter, and her neighbors from the outrageous Jax attack for THIS pitiful handful of pit bull owners?  I believe the grinning man with the "End Breed Prejudice" is Cooke.

Per the Barkpost " But now, after the Youngstown city council voted unanimously to end the ordinance, citizens of Youngstown can “own, keep, harbor, or possess” Pit Bulls to their heart’s content – without restriction."  I'm sure Schweikart's neighbors are thrilled.  

Cooke is flushed with his success "Cooke said he and his organization will also seek to eliminate bans in Struthers, Columbiana, and the village of Poland in the coming months."

Here is the question, and this is the part that I hear in Judge Jeanine's voice.  Will Cooke and his organization accept responsibility for what they have done? Until  Cooke's meddling in the affairs of Youngstown resulted in the loss of a proactive law that would have allowed Schweikart's neighbors to complain about a known aggressive pit bull harbored in a home with a small child, and an unfenced yard, they had legal recourse.  Now anything goes.  Who will mop up the blood and pay the medical bills?

Who is Jason Cooke?  Here is a photo of Jason and one of his eight pit mixes posted on his public Facebook page. He has labeled this photo "share away" so we will.



You can't make this stuff up.


The icing on the cake here?  Jax was reportedly obtained from a dog training center in Girard Ohio. Girard Ohio has a pit bull ban that would not allow Jax to be placed with a local resident.  Pit bull advocates put the same pressure on Girard that they put on Youngstown but Mayor Melfi of Girard,  stated "I have done some investigating and the fact that most insurance companies won't insure home owners if they have a Pit bull is one reason we are not interested in lifting the ban,” said Melfi. “That means if a Pit bull harms someone or somebody else’s dog they are not insured to pay the victim any damages incurred by that particular dog." "“That this not breed discrimination,” said Melfi. “You really don't see in the news where they say, someone was killed by a Beagle, or a Golden Retriever, or a Schnauzer so there is plenty of evidence speaking to this result. The bottom line is that elected leaders must protect people.”

Smart man, Jax was trafficked out of his city and the mauled pit bull owner is not his responsibility.

Smart man.  Elected leaders must protect people.